Grizzlies' guard Mike Conley keeps focus on court

Contract talks iffy so guard digs in at practice

Grizzlies starting point guard Mike Conley reached the lane on a drive to the basket with his understudy, Acie Law, defending.

Conley then froze Law with a stutter-step dribble on his way to an uncontested layup Monday during a training camp practice.

Scoring a contract extension won't come as easily for Conley.

The Griz have not entered negotiations for a contract extension with Conley and have no imminent plans to do so. Conley, 22, was the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft, and he reacted with indifference.

"My focus is me coming out with a chip on my shoulder regardless of whether I'm signed or not," Conley said. "I'm going to play as if I was somebody working to get a contract and help make this a winning team. If we win and I do my job, then I'll get signed eventually, from whomever."

The Griz have until Nov. 1 to make a deal with Conley on an extension. Conley will earn $4.9 million this season, the final year of his rookie-scale contract.

If the sides don't reach an agreement by the deadline, Conley would become a restricted free agent next summer. That is, if the Griz extend a one-year, $6.5 million qualifying offer by June 30.

The Griz would retain the right to match any offers.

In 2009, the Griz rescinded a qualifying offer to Hakim Warrick and allowed him to walk without compensation. But Memphis signed forward Rudy Gay to a five-year deal worth $84 million this summer after failing to reach an agreement on an extension last fall.

"These things all take on a life of their own," Griz general manager Chris Wallace said. "As was the case with Rudy last year, it doesn't mean that if we fail to reach an agreement with Mike this fall that it won't get done in the summer."

There might only be a handful of players from that class signed to contract extensions. Only Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (No.2 overall pick) and Chicago's Joakim Noah (ninth overall pick) have agreed to terms. The third overall pick, Al Horford, is in negotiations with Atlanta.

"They have their reasons. It's up to them," Conley said. "All I can control is what I do on the court this season. That's all I'm looking forward to."

Griz coach Lionel Hollins said he is happy with how Conley has performed in training camp.

"He's more aggressive. He's stronger and he's more confident," Hollins said, adding that the Griz have a more-than-suitable player at point guard despite constant criticism of Conley.

"He's an above-average point guard," Hollins said. "He's not in the top echelon, but he's in the top tier. He's got a lot of growth area left in his game. But there are a lot of guys who get credit for being in the top echelon and they really aren't. There are only a number of top-echelon players in the NBA, period."

Memphis is suddenly confronted with deciding what players are most important to the future of the franchise. The Griz already have determined Gay is a cornerstone.

All-Star forward Zach Randolph, center Marc Gasol and Conley are on tap this season, while guard O.J. Mayo will be eligible for a contract extension next fall.

Conley is perceived as the weakest link -- a label he's determined to shed this season.

"Regardless of what I've been through, it's all in the past for me. It's made me a stronger person," Conley said. "This is home for me. This is where I want to play and be around the guys I've played with for four years now."